William Anderson Harp

Notes for William HARP: The oldest records found in Granville and Franklin Cos., NC, from the Stanton/Staunton family are dated 1787 for a marriage between Sally Stanton and William Harp.

• 1800 Granville Co., NC, p. 530
• 1820 Overton Co., TN, p. 262
• 1830 Overton Co., TN, p. 195
• 1840 Overton Co., TN, p. 17
• 1849, Sampson HARP pension
• Overton Co., TN, Land Records Bk M, p. 146

His children are conjecture based on census.

There is a possibility that William may actually be a brother to Thomas Marion Harp, Jr. and son of Thomas Marion Harp, Sr.instead of Unknown Harp #2 but have no proof at this time.

The following is a letter received from Cheryl Harpe Smith on Jan 27, 1998 regarding some outlaws that were related to this family.I have misplaced my material on Big Harpe and Little Harpe.

There have been so many articles written about them one being Otto Rothert's book "The Outlaws of Cave-In-Rock". They roamed the countryside from Knoxville, TN through KentuckyLexington, Henderson and on over to Cave-In-Rock Illinois. In 1797-1798 (Big Harpe) Micajah was married in Blount County, TN Sep 5, 1797 to Susanna Roberts while (Little Harpe) was married in Knox County, TN Jun 1, 1797 to Sarah Rice. There were many gruesome crimes attributed to them whether in the vicinity or not. I think the more accurate account oftheir crimes was written in the early 1800's, a chapter in the book History of Henderson County, KY by Starling. He would have had access to articles, witnesses, etc., of the times and more likely to base his writing on facts rather than selling a good story.

When authorities caught up with Big Harpe, he was shot in the back and Moses Stegall, husband of a woman they killed,came upon Big Harpe and cut off his head. This was in Muhlenberg County at what is now called Harp's Hill. He then carried the head back to Sebree, KY where he mounted it on a post. Some years back the state of KY erected a bronze sign at the spot. Little Harpe escaped but was later caught up with in Arkansas and killed. Susannah Harpe was reported to have remarried and there were no living Harp children. Some accounts say they were brothers, others say cousins. They came out ofNorth Carolina and lived for a while in Knoxville, TN before starting on their crime spree.

My photocopy I do have of the Tennessee Papers by the Wisconsin Historical Society as follows:" 1799, Oct 24, Carolina Gazette - Article from Lexington, KY concerning Harpe brothers who escaped from Danville jail after killing Langford during previous winter; murder of Staples (Stegall) family; Micajah Harpe captured and killed after confessing to murder of Mr. Stump and 17 or 18 others."

"1799 Oct 31, Carolina Gazette - Article giving account received from Knoxville, TN of capture and death of Micajah Harpe shortly after he and his brother Wiley had murdered Mr. Love and the Staples (Stegal) family; Micajah Harpe killed by Staples and Leeper after confessing that he and his brother had murdered thirty-seven persons, among them a Mr. Johnson; two men by the name of Metcalf also implicated in these murders." source Draper Manuscript, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin. Cheryl Harpe.

Notes for William Harp:

The Harps live near a place that was then called Epping Forest and their homeplace dates back to the 1700's. It is still standing and in very good shape and still in the Harp family. I do know there is still a fairly large family of them living on the Lynnbank Road near Kittrell and that is where my grandfather's family settled when they appeared here about 1790.(Judy Llassiter)

William Harp is listed in the 1800 Granville County, North Carolina Census. (Sherry Henke)The Overton County, Tenessee 1830 census listed on page 195 a William Harp who was 60-70 years old living in the county very close to a much younger William Harp. (Sherry Henke)1800 Granville County, North Carolina Census, p. 530, 1820 Overton County, Tennessee Census, p. 262,1830 Overton County, Tennessee Census, p. 195 and the 1840 Overton County, Tennessee Census, p. 17. 1849, The

Sampson Harp pension Overton County, Tennessee, and the Land Records Bk M, p. 146 (Allen Harp)

In Overton County, Tennessee on 13 Dec 1811 has William Harp, Sr. selling to Burton Harp for $300 dollars containing est. 45 acres which is a part of a tract of l35 deeded by Samson Williams to William Harp, Sr. In staking out this land it shows the line up a creek to where there is a conditional line is known to have been made between John Harp, Sr & Beverly Harp, thence between the plantation and where an Isham Johnson now lives, and Samson Harp Sr, then with a conditional line to said William Harp Sr. (Marie Musgrave)

The following is a letter received from Cheryl Harpe Smith on Jan 27, 1998 regarding some outlaws that were related to this family.

I have misplaced my material on Big Harpe and Little Harpe. There have been several articles written about them one being Otto Rothert's book "The Outlaws of Cave-In-Rock." They roamed the countryside from Knoxville, Tennessee through Kentucky Lexington, Henderson and on over to Cave-in Rock Illinois. in 1797-1798. (Big Harpe) Micajah was married in Blount County, Tennessee 5 Sep 1797 to Susanna Roberts while (Little Harpe) was married in Knox County, Tennessee 1 Jun 1797 to Sarah Rice. There were many gruesome crimes attributed to them whether in the vicinity or not. I think the more accurate account of their crimes was written in the early 1800's, a chapter in the book History ofHenderson County, Kentucky by Starling. He would have had access to articles, witnesses, etc. of the times and more likely to base his writing on facts rather than selling a good story. When authorities caught up with Big Harpe, he was shot in the back and Moses Stegall, husband of a woman they killed, came upon Big Harpe and cut off his head. This was in Muhlenberg County at what is now called Harp's hill. He then carried the head back to Sebree, Kentucky where he mounted it on a post. Some years back the state of Kentucky erected a bronze sign at the spot. Little Harpe escaped but was later caught up with in Arkansas and killed. Susannah Harpe was reported to have remarried and there were no living Harp children. Some accounts say they were brothers, others say cousins. They came out of North Carolina and lived for a while in Knoxville, Tennessee before starting on their crime spree. My photocopy I do have of the Tennessee Papers by the Wisconsin Historical Society as follows:

" 1799, Oct. 24 Carolina Gazette - Article from Lexington, Kentucky concerning Harpe brothers who escaped from Danville jail after killing Langford during previous winter; murder of Staples (Stegall) family; Micajah Harpe captured and killed after confessing to murder of Mr. Stump and seventeen or eighteen others. "

"1799 Oct. 31, Carolina Gazette - Article giving account received from Knoxville, Tennessee of capture and death of Micajah Harpe shortly after he and his brother Wiley had murdered Mr. Love and the Staples (Stegall) family; Micajah Harpe killed by Staples and Leeper after confessing that he and his brother had murdered thirty-seven persons, among them a Mr. Johnson; two men by name of Metcalf also implicated in these murders." source Draper Manuscript, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin.cheryl

The Harpes were not Brothers but actually cousins. Big Harpes real name is thought to be William, his father was John. Johns brother William was the father of Joshua aka Little Harpe. John and William came to the UnitedStates from Scotland and both bought land in Hillsboro, Orange County, North Carolina.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/3113/harpe.html

The following is from "Frontier serial killers: The Harpes" on the The Southern Illinois History Page By JON MUSGRAVET. Marshall Smith published his "Legends of the War of Independence" in 1855. Focusing on the lesser known stories and characters in the southern and western theaters of the Revolutionary War, Smith claims the Harpes as pro-British fighters at theBattle of King's Mountain and other skirmishes. An old Revolutionary War soldier named Frank Wood provided much of the information to Smith about the Harpes' activity during the war. Wood served at the Battle of King's Mountain when only 18. He should have been able to provide reliable information considering he personally saw Big Harpe at three battles. Unlike other Tories who fought for the British and raided the patriot farms, Wood had adequate reason to remember Big Harpe, for about nine months after King's Mountain, Big Harpe kidnapped Frank's younger sister Susan. Smith's sources also included his grandfather and from two of the Harpe women. His grandfather heard the story from Wood himself just weeks after the kidnapping. Both women had heard about the Harpes from their fathers, even before their kidnappings. Smith starts his story with John and William Harpe, the brothers who were fathers to the younger outlaw Harpes. The two immigrated to the United States from Scotland in 1759 or 1760 and settled in Orange County, North Carolina, sometime during the period of 1761 to 1763.

No one has fully examined the facts in Smith's book, but a quick check on the Internet of the USGenWeb archives for Orange County found a John and William Harper on a 1779 tax roll, which may be close enough considering the lack of consistent spellings during that period. Also, the same Internet archive showed a John Davidson as a signer on a Regulator petition in 1768. Smith starts his book with a conversation between the elder set of Harpes and a John Davidson, Maria's father and a Regulator fighting the British governor during the late 1760s and early 1770s.

In late April or early May 1775, the young Harpes left home to try their luck in getting jobs overseeing slaves in Virginia. At this point the Harpes are either 20 and 18, or 15 and 13. Smith makes the same reference to their age in two different parts of the book five years apart. For this trip they stole at least one horse from the neighborhood of the Wood residence. For the next five years, their exact whereabouts are unknown, except that they took part in the Tory gangs that terrorized their patriot or Whigneighbors.

During the Revolutionary War, semi-outlaw groups from both Tory and patriot sides roamed the no-man land between the American and British positions. These bands, particularly the Tory ones in Smith's book, saw the war as an opportunity to rape, pillage and burn without abandon their neighbors who may have been on the other side. He reported by name three kidnappings of young women by Tory rape gangs operating in North Carolina. Frank's father, Capt. James Wood, successfully interrupted the attempted kidnapping of a fourth teen, shooting and wounding Little Harpe, one of the five attackers.

During 1780 as the British refocused their campaign on the South, they officially recognized and admitted these Tory irregulars and Cherokee allies into their ranks. On Oct. 7, the Americans attacked the a large portion of the British Army in the South at King's Mountain, near the border between the Carolinas. The younger Wood shot at Big Harpe but missed during the battle.

After the battle - a defeat for the British - the Harpes briefly visited their fathers' neighborhood. However, they didn't stay there long, Wood also recalled facing Big Harpe in battle on Nov. 20 at the Battle of Blackstocks and again on Jan. 16-17, 1781, at the Battle of the Cowpens in South Carolina

"On three occasions I saw him after that [Blackstocks], and twice we meet in battle. He was, as you know, belonging to [Lt. Banastre] Tarleton's command, and I with Gen. [Daniel] Morgan. At the battle of the Cowpens I saw him, and I am sure he saw me. But he managed to keep out of my way till we 100 and took prisoners to the number of 500 red British and Tories. But again big Bill got off with the retreat of Tarleton," recalled Woods years after the battle.
Shortly after that, the Harpes left the British Army to go back with the Cherokees to their villages west of the Appalachians. During that trip they took part in the attack on Bluff Station (Fort Nashborough) at the present side of Nashville, Tenn., on April 1. Four hundred Cherokees took part in the raid. Nashville historians recalled a Capt. James Leiper among those who died in the assault. Leiper may have been a relative to the John Leiper who shot Big Harpe 18 years later. According to statements made after Big Harpe's death, John Leiper and Harpe knew and distinctively disliked each other.

After the raid, the Harpes did not stay with the Cherokee's long. About the first week of June they kidnapped Maria Davidson.A week later they took Susan Wood. After rendezvousing at a hunter's cabin on the east side of the mountains, the Harpes, their captive and brutalized women, and four assistants crossed the mountains.

During the 20 day trip to the Cherokee-Chickamauga town of Nickjack located southwest of modern-day Chattanooga, theHarpes managed to find time to kill Moses Doss. Big Harpe apparently found a problem with Doss' over-concern for thewomen's well being. For the next 12 to 13 years the women and the Harpes stayed in the Indian village. Twice each of the captive women became pregnant, and twice each the Harpes murdered their children.

When the British surrendered at Yorktown, not all fighting ceased. Groups of Indians including the Chickamaugas, abreak-away band of Cherokee, continued to make war on the pioneers in the settlements west of the mountains. As guests in their village, the Harpes often followed them on the warpath, including the Battle of Blue Licks on Aug. 19, 1782, when a large group of British-backed Indians defeated an army of Kentuckians. They again joined the Indians in an attack on Bledsoe's Lick in Tennessee, either on July 20, 1788, or April 9, 1793, dates of two major attacks on the settlement.

Finally, the Americans successfully took the offensive and struck back wiping out Nickajack in September 1794. Somehow, the Harpes found out about the attack through their white contacts and secreted their women out of the village the night before the battle.

1850 census Madison Co., AR

1. 691 war Eagle Twp Thomas Harp 23 TN Rhoda Harp16 AL Charlotte Harp 60 NC 1860 census Christian Co., MO Linn TWP
2. 313 William Davis Elizabeth Charlotte Harp

We do not find William after 1830's census-I believe he died earlyThe Harp's were in the freighting business -also leading wagon trains west--William could have dissappeared or died this way?

This is Albert Harp's family who has Harp's grocery Store in Eureka Springs, ARNotes for William HARP:

A William Harp served in the War of 1812 from Overton County, TN. He wa a private in Captain Pearcers Company Battalion 3 Regt. Tenn. Militia Infantry commanded by Major William Woodfolk and served 6 months 12 days and was given an honorable discharge(Edna Lowery and Mildred Roden).

Notes for William Harp:

William may have been born 1781. (Eddie Davis) William was in North Carolina in 1807 and then in Overton, Tennessee. (Don Noblin)A William Harp served in the war of 1812 from Overton County, Tennessee. This could be the William Harp. He was a private in Captain Pearcers Company Batt'n. 3 Regt. Tenn. Militia. Infantry commanded by Major William Woodfolk, and served 6 months 12 days and was given an honorable discharge. (Descendants of William and Charlotte Harp by Edna Lowery and Mildred Roden)

79. William8 Harp (Sampson7, Thomas Marion6, Joshua5 Earp/Harp, John4 Earp, Thomas3, Thomas2 Earpe, Sr., John1) was born 1780 in Granville County, North Carolina (Source: (1) Don Noblin., (2) Edna Lowery and Mildred Roden in Descendants of William and Charlotte Harrison Harp.), and died 1865 in Christian County, Missouri (Source: Edna Lowery and Mildred Roden in Descendants of William and Charlotte Harrison Harp.). He married Charlotte (Lottey) Harrison November 05, 1804 in Granville County, North Carolina (Source: (1) Edna Lowery and Mildred Roden in Descendants of William and Charlotte Harrison Harp., (2) Marie Steele.), daughter of James Harrison and Winnie Reddin. She was born 1785 in North Carolina (Source: Don Noblin.), and died 1865 in Christian County, Missouri (Source: Don Noblin.).

Notes for William Harp:

William may have been born 1781. (Eddie Davis) William was in North Carolina in 1807 and then in Overton, Tennessee. (Don Noblin) A William Harp served in the war of 1812 from Overton County, Tennessee. This could be the William Harp. He was a private in Captain Pearcers Company Batt'n. 3 Regt. Tenn. Militia. Infantry commanded by Major William Woodfolk, and served 6 months 12 days and was given an honorable discharge. (Descendants of William and Charlotte Harp by Edna Lowery and Mildred Roden)Again, all three men, Sampson Harp, William Harp, and Burton Harp lived next to or close to Elijah Davis in the 1830 Overton County, Tennessee Census page 182. Simon Harp also lived next to Elijah. William is listed as 50-60, with one female 40-50, one female 20-30 one male 15-20, one female 15-20, three females 10-15, two females 5-10, two males 5-10, one female 0-5 and one male age 0-5. (Sherry Henke)

More About William Anderson Harp:

Died 2: Aft. 1850, Overton, TN.7

Military service: 1812, Pvt in Cpt.Pearcer's Co. Bat.3. Reg. TN.7

More About William Anderson Harp and Charlotte (Lottie) Harrison:

Marriage: 05 Nov 1804, Granville Co., NCThomas King Bondsman.7

Children of William Anderson Harp and Charlotte (Lottie) Harrison are:

• +Thomas Jefferson Harp, b. 04 Jul 1828, Overton Co., TNsee notes7, d. 31 May 1910, Clifty, Madison Co. AR7.

Source: http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/b/r/o/Jim-Brown-Oklahoma/WEBSITE-0001/...

Source:

• 1.1800 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Second Census of the United States, 1800. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1800. M32, 52
• 2.North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004 Ancestry.com Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007.Original data - Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp. (P.O. Box 740, Orem, Utah 84059) from county marriage records on microfilm located at the Family History Library in Salt Lake Cit
• 3.Family Data Collection - Individual Records Edmund West, comp. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000.
• 4.Family Data Collection - Births Edmund West, comp. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001.
• 5.Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.
• "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/S51D-BK9 : accessed 7 August 2012), entry for William Anderson /Harp/.
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCVQ-TYH